Phylogeny, time divergence, and historical biogeography of the South AmericanLiolaemus alticolor-bibroniigroup (Iguania: Liolaemidae)

The genusLiolaemuscomprises more than 260 species and can be divided in two subgenera:EulaemusandLiolaemus sensu stricto. In this paper, we present a phylogenetic analysis, divergence times, and ancestral distribution ranges of theLiolaemus alticolor-bibroniigroup (Liolaemus sensu strictosubgenus). We inferred a total evidence phylogeny combining molecular (Cytband12Sgenes) and morphological characters using Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference. Divergence times were calculated using Bayesian MCMC with an uncorrelated lognormal distributed relaxed clock, calibrated with a fossil record. Ancestral ranges were estimated using the Dispersal-Extinction-Cladogenesis (DEC-Lagrange). Effects of somea prioriparameters of DEC were also tested. Distribution ranged from central Perú to southern Argentina, including areas at sea level up to the high Andes. TheL. alticolor-bibroniigroup was recovered as monophyletic, formed by two clades:L. walkeriandL. gracilis, the latter can be split in two groups. Additionally, many species candidates were recognized. We estimate that theL. alticolor-bibroniigroup diversified 14.5 Myr ago, during the Middle Miocene. Our results suggest that the ancestor of theLiolaemus alticolor-bibroniigroup was distributed in a wide area including Patagonia and Puna highlands. The speciation pattern follows the South-North Diversification Hypothesis, following the Andean uplift.